25 MCS educators qualify as National Board Certified Teacher, 11 renew status

MADISON – A new set of educators in Madison City Schools have attained NBCT status, considered the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.

Twenty-five more teachers in Madison now hold NBCT status. In addition, 11 MCS teachers recertified their NBCT rank. MCS now has 122 National Board Certified Teachers, the most in the district’s history and among the highest in all Alabama school systems, regardless of size.

Educators who most recently earned the status of National Board Certified Teacher are Emily Albert, Taylor Blevins, Emily Bounds, Tonya Brogden, Kelly Brunson, Olivia Chambers, Kelli Ducy, Elizabeth Green, Amanda Haynes, Joy Hearrington, LaParis James, Norma Malone, Melissa Marowski, Robin Mc-Connell, Rachel Nelson, Mason Overcash, Colleen Paine, Amy Ramsdell, Matthew Rytting, Alicia Sanders, Shandi Silk, Bryant Starkey, Logan Thomas, Mary Thomas and Jennifer Tubbs.

Teachers who recertified their NBCT status are Judy Bagwell, Stephanie Bostick, Lauren Cecil, Peggy Dupree, Paige Green, Sophia Hall, Susan Rader, Kiley Rikard, Lory Schieler, Elizabeth Woodard and Clint Woodfin.

These teachers have proven their commitment to learning and growing as an educator. Their dedication provides a supreme level of instruction to Madison students.

National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.

Created by teachers, for teachers, the National Board Standards represent a consensus among educators about teacher skills. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas spanning 16 disciplines from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

This tremendous accomplishment and testament show their dedication to the teaching profession. National studies indicate students of NBCT teachers gain as much as one to two months more learning per year through teaching methods gleaned from rigorous training on analysis, reflection and intentionality.

Recognized as the “gold standard” in education, NBCT greatly improves instructional practices, fosters leadership skills and often leads to retention and career advancement.

Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols thanked principals for support to teachers during the training process. He also commended the new NBCTs and those renewing their NBCT credential saying, “The lives of children will be made better because you invested to make yourself better.”

The push for NBCT credentials has gained support in recent years from groups like the Committee of 100 and The Schools Foundation, which have committed funding to the cause for Madison City, Huntsville City and Madison County schools, MCS Public Relations Manager John Peck said.

Nichols noted that the 317 new NBCTs statewide represent a large percentage from Madison, Huntsville and Madison County schools alone.